I’ve just stopped breastfeeding my 6-year-old – trolls say it’s gross, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it
A MUM-OF-TWO has received backlash from online trolls for breastfeeding he son until the age of six.
The young parent marked the end of her son’s breastfeeding journey with a celebratory cake after they made the “joint decision” to stop.
Lauren McLeod, 31, said she expected her son Bowie, now seven, to stop earlier but explained that he still occasionally asked for a feeding.
So she continued to breastfeed him, even after giving birth to his sister Tigerlily, now four.
Lauren revealed that both children began having solid food and water from six months but explained that she sees breastfeeding as an “added bonus.”
She said she regards breastmilk as a strong immunity booster and a great comfort.
However, last year, she and Bowie made the “joint decision” to stop with feeds.
The Australian, who works as a doula, still breastfeeds her daughter twice a day, revealing that she won’t stop until Tigerlily is “ready.”
She described the end of her breastfeeding journey with her son as “very emotional” and “the end of an era.”
However, she added that they both “knew it was time” and decided to celebrate the occasion.
“I wanted one last feed with him and made a cake saying ‘bye bye boobies,'” Lauren said.
Both she and her husband Anders, 34, supported their children’s decision to continue breastfeeding past their toddler years.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Tigerlily also went on until she was six like her brother, but I will follow her lead,” Lauren said.
She recalled her experience feeding two children after giving birth to her daughter in 2020.
“I had to set more boundaries for myself when Tigerlily was born because I was breastfeeding both of them – I started to feed Bowie less,” she explained.
“I’ve been really lucky to have easy breastfeeding journeys and I’ve had no major struggles.”
Bowie, who began eating solid food at the age of two, would only request milk before bed and eventually cut down his feedings to once a week.
What are the recommendations around breastfeeding?
The NHS recommends breastfeeding your baby exclusively (feeding them breast milk only) for the first six months, but it’s completely up to you to decide when you want to bring it to an end – and there’s really no right or wrong way to do it.
The NHS says weaning often happens gradually as your baby begins to eat more solid foods.
They note that solid food shouldn’t replace breast milk, as there is evidence to suggest breast milk helps a baby’s digestive system when processing solid food for the first time.
“Once they are eating solids, your baby will still need to have breast milk or formula as their main drink up to at least their first birthday,” recommends the NHS.
“Cows’ milk isn’t suitable as a main drink for babies under one, although it can be added to foods, such as mashed potatoes.”
You can also combine breastfeeding with formula, too and the NHS says “phasing out” of breastfeeding is often the easiest way.
For example, dropping one feed in the day or at night time.
After around a week, you can begin to think about dropping another.
“If your baby is younger than one year, you’ll need to replace the dropped breastfeed with a formula feed from a bottle or (if they are over six months) a cup or beaker, instead,” they say.
You can breastfeed for as long as you want, and while the NHS recommends breastfeeding your baby exclusively for the first six months, you shouldn’t feel like you cannot continue for longer.
The World Health Organization says: “Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond.”
“By the end it was very rare – occasionally he would ask for me to put him to bed for a feed, or it would comfort him if he was upset or sick,” Lauren said.
“Bowie and I had a few conversations about it over a period of time, and agreed we were ready.”
Tigerlily is still breastfeeding each morning and night and Lauren is happy to continue until her daughter wants to stop, although she said her breasts don’t make as much milk as they used to.
Trolls have accused Lauren of child abuse, calling her “gross” for breastfeeding her children for such a long time.
She disagrees with the sentiment, pointing out the benefits of breastfeeding.
“Breastfeeding beyond infancy is completely normal – it’s not weird or sexual,” Lauren said.
“I believe we’re doing the right thing for us, breastmilk has so many nutrients and helps with their immune systems – it’s full of good stuff.
“And breastfeeding is a beautiful way to bond with your child, so it’s always been a very positive experience for me.”
She explained that she had researched breastfeeding past the age of two and discovered “it’s perfectly biologically normal to continue to breastfeed until the age we have done.”
“There’s nothing wrong with it, so in my head, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” Lauren said.
